Cure for the common blockbuster

The Route 66 Film Festival, Nov. 1 and 2, opens a local window on the world of independent movies

MILITARY/VETERANS FILMS, 6:15– 8:00 p.m.A Quest for Peace: Non-violence Among Religions—10 minsMatthew Evans—Santa Maria, Calif.Young filmmaker, Matthew J. Evans, takes a look at one of the most pressing issues in our modern society: violence among religions.

In Her Boots—14 minsStephen Erdman—CaliforniaExplores the struggles of a military wife working to provide strength for her own growing family while helping other military families through their trying times in her work as a Family Readiness Group leader .

Residue—7 minsRobert Thorpe—CaliforniaUnable to cope with the memories of war, a Veteran contemplates suicide while his wife tries to take his mind off the thoughts running through his head.

Dog Tag—31 minsMark Finnell—Ferndale, Mich.Dog Tag explores the effects of America’s longest war within a middle class, mid-western family, and reveals both the regret and love of a father and his son.

Over the Horizon—5 minsAndrew Klein—San Francisco, Calif.Over The Horizon uses two characters to explore the power of horizons and what they imply in our way of perceiving the world. A dividing line between a glass half empty, and a glass half full.

Not Anymore: A Story of Revolution—14 minsMatthew VanDyke—Baltimore, Md.The story of the Syrian revolution as told through the experiences of two young Syrians, a male rebel fighter and a female journalist, as they fight an oppressive regime for the freedom of their people.

Long Way Home (excerpt from the beginning of the film) - 15 minsThomas R. Jones, Sr.—Springfield, Il.The transformation of Johnny Douglas, the boy that left home, to JD, the soldier that returned. A stranger to family and friends. The struggles faced by the family to understand what caused such dramatic changes.

Sum Ba Kok Jil—49 minsHanuk Lee—Seoul, South KoreaSome people never repent their sins. But what happens when they become attacker and victim at the same time?

Hangars—16 minsJohn Klein—Chicago, Il.A dark horror comedy about Gabriel, a young wisecrack waging a battle against the ghost of his new apartment’s former tenant.

After Party - until 1:00 a.m.

Saturday 11/2

10 a.m.

Virtuous Virtuell – 7 minsThomas Stellmach – Kassel, Hessen, GermanySynchronizing to the music, abstract ink drawings ‘grow’ in an interplay of curiosity, timid encounters, dynamic pursuits and confrontation, stimulating many emotions, which carry us off on a poetical journey to a musical world of pictures.

The Olympians – 4 minsKarl Maddix – London, UKThe Gods of Olympus descend upon London during the Olympic Games. Our heroine Olympia, the embodiment of the Olympic flame must use her athletic prowess to defeat Hades atop Mount Olympus and relight the Olympic torch. A gorgeous and stylized animation of epic proportions.

Nauragos – 3 minsMario Rico - Bilbao, SpainTwo castaways separated by distance. All their hopes are pinned in the bottles that they just launch to the sea. A travel across the ocean looking for a hand to pick them up. Will they get someone to listen?

Wooing Wes Wilson – 11 minsThad Vassmer – Kingston, Il.Delilah, a quirky 13 year old girl, determines to win the affections of her older sister’s boyfriend Wes Wilson in any way she can, including drumming.

Fe De Vida – 5 minsElena Frez – Bilboa, SpainThe main character goes to the Civil Registry General Office to request her birth certificate proof of identity.

Libby Girl: Bored Games – 4 minsJanet Mayson – Bloomington, Il.Libby Girl is a sweet Jack Russell Terrier who loves to play and explore. She is always looking for something fun and new to do, especially when she can include her little dog friends, Bruno and Rico. This time, Janet is running late, but Libby still finds a way to have her friends over for board game fun.

Beggar and the Road Kid – 10 minsRyan Caldwell – O’Fallon, Mo.An old hobo’s begging territory is threatened when a young vagabond hitch hikes into town.

Sleight of Hand – 10 minsMichael Cusack - Adelaide, SA, AustraliaA set of techniques used by someone to manipulate objects secretly to deceive. This is a stop-motion film about illusions. A Man yearns to know his place in the world and how he fits in, when sometimes it’s better not to know.

Edgar’s Dance – 7 minsJosh Mullins – St. Louis, Mo.An elderly man becomes frustrated after not being able to leave his own home and it’s up to his daughter to try and comfort him.

Moonlight – 12 minutesMichele McGovern – Chicago, Il.Set in Chicago in the 1930’s, this is the fictional short silent film which reflects the conflicting emotions of love and death.

Chance of Rain – 15 minsPhillip Wolter – Brooklyn, NYJason ducks into a psychic’s parlor to avoid the pouring rain only to be faced with a choice that will determine the rest of his life.

Break – 11:30 to Noon

12:00 noon

Butterfly Dreams – 22 minsVenkat Krishnan – Culver City, Calif.A nine-year-old girl in rural India, exploited by child labor, must find a way to pursue her dream - how to read and write. She has one last chance when an educated man comes to town.

El Delirio del pez leon – 4 minsJosé Enrique Rivera Rivera – San Juan, Puerto RicoInspired by the Lionfish plague, this neo-noir film tells a story about greed and hierarchy in the Caribbean reefs.

Harlequin – 16 minsTara Alexis – Los Angeles, Calif.Feeling entitled to more than she truly deserves, Claudia Davis decides to take on a new persona and begin robbing convenience stores.

88 Miles to Moscow – 20 minsKaren Glienke – Los Angeles, Calif.15-year-old Niki gets more than she bargained for when she sneaks off a train for a quick smoke, stumbling into an offbeat adventure involving her ex-con dad, troubled mother, and a young Russian garbage man.

Blackbird – 19 minsAndrew Dena – Il.An artistic young woman struggling with the constraints of her small town is forced to decide about her future when a mysterious stranger rolls into town.

Le Train Bleu – 18 minsStephanie Assimacopoulo – Paris, FranceParis - Gare De Lyon. Helie behaves as a true bounder, Selena, evermore in love, still wants to pick up the pieces. At the bar of ‘Le Train Bleu’, where they stop to have a last drink, neither one cannot imagine what will happen.

The Interviewer – 12 minsGenevieve Clay - Petersham, NSW, AustraliaThomas Howell gets more than he’s bargained for in a job interview at a prestigious law firm; an insult about his tie, a rendition of Harry Potter and the chance to change the lives of a father and son.

Rose, Mary and Time – 38 minsHardeep Giani – London, UKThe film is a story of second chances. Barney is married - unhappily. He lost the love of his life around six years ago - she was murdered. Through the magic contained within a clock he inherited, and with the help of an old Indian shop keeper, Barney finds himself back in time, with the opportunity to save her... but life isn’t always as easy as that.

The Brother – 25 minsMichael Stevantoni - Campbell River, BC, CanadaMark Saddler left home when he was 18, dreaming of being a success in the city. Wanting a fresh start, he became estranged from his family. Now he is forced to return home when he learns of his brother’s death. Mark has to deal with the loose ends he left behind, beginning with facing his father and an old high school flame.

Al final del dia – 16 minsAlvaro Garcia – Bilboa, SpainA story about the last opportunities we are given along our lives which we cannot miss. Those opportunities for liberation, for reunion, to fill the gaps, and silences of the past.

The Rose of Turaida – 6 minsRyan Grobins - Adelaide, SA, AustraliaBased on a true story set in 17th century Latvia, The Rose of Turaida tells of the tragedy of a beautiful young woman who makes the ultimate sacrifice for love and honor.

The White Room – 10 minsTom Doherty – Rockford, ILThe White Room is a powerful, emotional, psychological drama that follows a young man who wakes up trapped and confused in a mysterious room with no recollection as of how he came to be there. The events of the film play out in an unforeseeable direction that will leave a lasting impact on your life.

They Will Outlive Us All – 73 minsPatrick Shearer – New York, N.Y.New York City. 2016. In the years since Hurricane Sandy, the city has been brought to its knees by a series of ‘Frankenstorms.’ Roommates Margot and Daniel attempt to survive this ‘new’ New York by avoiding it at all costs. But with the advent of three strange deaths in their Brooklyn building, the world they’ve been hiding from begins knocking hard on the back door.

Break 5:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

5:30 p.m.

Wind Up - 20 minsHadley Hillel – Seattle, Wash.Wind Up follows the story of Jacob, a boy whose father has just died, leaving his mother unable to function. When he finds a toy monkey in the woods, dark events soon begin to unfold around him.

Puncture – 5 minsEdward Lyons - Cronulla, NSW, AustraliaWhen a self reliant business woman breaks down on a dark and isolated country road, she discovers that help can come from the strangest of strangers.

Only Thunder – 14 minsChris Ramirez – Elmwood Park, Il.Only Thunder tells the story of a mysterious woman who pays a visit to a small town sheriff, where she confronts him with the knowledge of a secret he’s kept for 7 years.

Thinking About You – 20 minsHarrison Atkins – Brooklyn, N.Y.Teenage Brandon’s telepathy has rendered him a social outcast who must wear a bulbous helmet at all times to prevent his subjectivity from leaking into other peoples’ minds. When he meets a new student, Janet, who suffers from the same condition, their love affair is instantaneous and explosive.

Ella y el espejo – 30 minsHector Dominguez-Viguera – Bilbao, SpainShe and He have never spoken to each other because they don’t know language. It seems they are going to spend the rest of their lives together without any setback. But one day, She finds a strange object that will change her life forever.

El Lado Frio de la Almohada – 12 minsHerminio Cardiel – Bilbao, SpainA couple who just met is going to share a bed and its pillow that same night.

Hatboxes – 18 minsSusana Darwin – Forest Park, Il.Nadine, a secular Jewish lesbian, meets Orthodox Miriam though Miriam’s children. Nadine wants to cultivate her Jewish identity, where Miriam is dealing with doubts about her place in the world after her husband has left her. Their friendship grows and the chemistry between the women takes weight.

You Don’t Say – 112 mins.Robert Alaniz – Frankfort, Il.A successful career woman gets caught up in a comedic whirlwind of events, when a mystical necklace given to her as a gift from her boyfriend that may be causing her to uncontrollably speak her mind in the politically-correct world of corporate business.